Apparatus for extracting cholesterol from blood



July 3o, 1929. v1,722,435 n APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING CHOLESTEROL IFROM BLOQD l l s. L. L ElBoFF Filed Sept. 25. 1924 Patented July 3o, 1929.

PATENT' OFFICE.

y SAMUEL L. LEIBOFF, OF NEW- YORK,` N. Y.

APPARATUS FOB EXTRACTING CEGLIE!S'J.".El}3OI|- FROM BLOOD.

limplication lcd September This invention relates to an improved process vand apparatus for extracting cholesterol from blood for determining the quantity of cholesterol therein..

Among the objects of the invention is the rovision of a process of the character and or the purpose described which is comparatively simple, and which may be easily and quickly, carried out and gives highly \ac l curate results, and the provision of improved apparatus for carrying out said process winch shall be simple and compact in construction, comprised of few and simple parts, easily manipulated, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and eiiicient in operation to a high degree. l

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter 'pointed out.

The `invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated inthe following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one ofthe various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a multiple condenser and an extraction tube connected thereto v-used in carrying out the process embodying the invention; l .f

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the extraction tube; and

, Fig. 3 is a front elevational view (partly in section) of the apparatus arranged to carry out the process.

The process in a general way consists in applying the blood sample to a piece of fatfree absorbent material then extracting cholesterol from the said sample by a suitable agent through the said material. The process is preferably carried out by means of the apparatus now to be described.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a multiple condenser comprising a body portion or acket 11 made of any suitable material, but preferably of copper or the like, saidjacket 11 vhaving outwardly ex- 25, 1924. Serial N0- 739,964.

tending in opposite directions adjacent the lower and upper ends thereof yinlet 11a and outlet 11b, respectively, for the purpose hereinafter to appear. 'l

' For closing the endsof the jacket 11, two 55 similarly constructed members 12 and 13' shaped to correspond to the end openings of the jacket 11 may be provided and are preferably made of rubberor thelike suitable material 'that will form a water tight joint 60 with the wall of jacketa 11 when inserted in` the said end openings thereof. One or more condenser tubes 14 may be supported in spaced relation within the acket 11 between the members 12 and 13 which are perforated 65 to permit the end portions 14a of eac-h tube14 to extend through and beyond said members 12 and 18, as shown in Fig. 1. Tubes 14 may be made of any suitable material, as for example glass, and the mid-section 14b of each 70. tube 14 extending within the jacket 1l is preferably substantially greater in cross-scction than the end portion 14=L so as to p rovidev a relatively large cooling surface. Vith the condenser 10 constructed as described above, 75 it is apparent that a broken tube 14 may be easily replaced by simply removing either of the members 12 or 13.

15 indicates in general an extraction tube which may be made of glass or a like suitable so material and is formed to have a' bulb shaped end 15, a contracted mid-portion 15b which provides an interior annular shoulder 15c between it and an upper-or neck portion 15d. The mid-portion 15b may have a marking 17 85 thereon to serve as a graduate measure and is here shown to designate 5 cubic centimeters (5 c. c.). The shoulder 15G provides a support for a dished disc of filter paperl.

To connect the extraction tube 15 to the 90 condenser 11, a perforated cork stopper 18 or the like suitable closure may be provided, the stopper 18 being constructed to make a tight connect-ionl between the neck 15d of the tube 15 and one of the lower end portions 95 14a of the condenser 10.

The process and the carrying out of the same by means of the apparatus will now be more fully described.

A measured amount of chloroform is put 100l into the extractor tube 15, as for example 5 c.c.y up to the mark 17. A disc of heavy, fat-free filter paper 16 is dropped into the tube so as to restV on the shoulder 15 and a measured quantity, for example (0.25 c. c.) of oxalated blood is pipetted on to the filter paper' 16 which immediately absorbs the same. t

The stopper 18 is inserted into the neck 15d and t-he tube 15 attached to the lower end of a condenser tube 14. A number of blood samples may be tested in one operation by similarly preparing a corresponding num;

ber of tubes 15 and attaching them to the condenser tubes 14. The bulb ends 15a of all the tubes 15 are immersed in a beaker 19 of 4hot or boiling Water, placed over a suitable heating source such as a small electric heater 20, the water in the beaker being kept above the level of the chloroform in the tube as shown in Fig. 3. v i

The inlet 11b of the condenser 11 is then connected by means of a rubber tubing 21 -With a cold Water supply (not shown) and Water is kept continuously circulating through condenser 11 and discharging from the outlet 1111 through a tubing 22.

The extraction which takes place during i the boiling of the chloroformis completed after thirty minutes, during' which time the distilling chloroform vapor passes up the tube 15 through a small central opening 16a' 1 provided in the filter paperdisc 16 and into the condenser tube 14 Where the vapors are .t cooled and condensed. The liquefied chloroform drips back on the filter paper disc 16 in the tube 15 and in passing through the filter paper extracts the cholesterolfrom the absorbed blood sample.

After the extraction operation is completed, the tube 15 is removed and placed in a beaker of cold Water. Cool chloroform is then added exectly to .the mark 17, and the green color is then developed in theiusual manner by adding acetic anhydride and sulphuric acid and leaving the solution in a dark place for a short time. The cholesterol in the sample is then determlned in the usual manner by comparison with a known standard. l l g It has been found that this method, as carriedA out with the .apparatus described, not

samples While with the method and apparatus above described a small blood quantity, as

for example 0.25 c. c. has been found to give objects of this invention are achieved and Which are Well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possiblev embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a device for determining cholesterol in blood, a tube having a closed end portion adapted to hold an extracting fluid, a contracted mid-portion forming 'a shoulder for supporting a porous partition over said end portion and means formedon said contracted portion for measuring a desired quantity of the fluid in said end portion. Y

2. In a device for extracting cholesterol from blood, an extraction tube formed With a f closed end adapted to hold an extracting fluid and a contracted mid-portion, said portion forming a shoulder and a porous, absorbent partitioning member supported on said shoulder adapted to receive thereon a blood sarnple for exposing same to the action Xof the extraction fluid. y

3. In a device for extracting cholesterol from blood, an extraction tube formed with a closed end adapted to hold an extracting fluid and a contracted mid-portion, said portion forming a shoulder and a porous, absorbent partitioning member supported on said shoulder adapted to receive thereon a blood sample for exposing same to the action of the extraction fluid, said member having a through opening to permit the passage of the extraction fluid therethrough. y

4.1m a `device for extracting cholesterol from blood, an extraction tube formed With a closed end adapted to hold an extracting fiuid and a contracted mid-portion, said p0rtion forminga shoulder and a porous, absorbent partitioning member supported on said shoulder adapted to receive thereon a blood'sample for exposing same to the action of the extraction fluid, said member having a through opening to permit the passage of the extraction fluid therethrough, and graduate marking on the contracted section for measuring a desired quantity of the fluid in the tube 5. An extracting cup comprising a bulbous t pertion, a reduced neck portion connected to said bulbous portion and a tubular portion of a, diameter greater than said neck portion, said reduced neck portion und said tubular portion being connected by a shoulder p0rtion, as and for the purpose described.

6. An extracting cup comprising a bulbous portion, a graduated reduced neck portion connected to said bulbous portion, and a tu- SAMUEL L. .LEIBOFR 

